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Wednesday, March 7, 2018

I've been wasting a lot of electricity lately by getting all hyped up, turning on my computer and then staring blankly at the screen for hours. I have no idea where this story is going and when I manage to get a few sentences out, end up writing my characters into a corner. The fourth book to Polaris is giving me lot of heartache--or maybe more like heartburn. I think I'm trying to incorporate too many background stories from side characters that it's taking up space. Almost 400 pages in and I feel like I need another 500 after rewriting about 150. These books keep getting longer because the characters have more to say. Also, I'm not really feeling the "spark" between my MC and the guys, probably because these guys are more the tsundere types, and that spark is hard to create when the MC, despite being hot-headed, isn't particularly a warm character either. She's kind of a tsundere sometimes so then we have three tsundere characters looking awkwardly at one another (or maybe ignoring each other) at this dull party full of wallflowers. Oh boy... Needless to say, I don't think this book will be done by July unless I have an epiphany.

I do have some ideas for the CGs though. I had the image of Mizuki from the Ninja Destiny otome in my mind for Ying but Ying is said to have long tuffs of hair while Mizuki's is short. Plus, Ying is older (~35 yrs old) and I wanted to go with the realistic art again instead of anime-ish art so he won't end up looking much like Mizuki. Yue will be even more difficult because he's supposed to be super hunky and um... I'm not sure if I can pull the art off on that but I will try. Just keep in mind he's supposed to be super hunky ;)

Lastly, I'm wondering if I should be nice and keep the book light and airy or go a little dark and start chopping off characters like a Shakespeare play. Demons and Demon Slayers were covered in the last full volume while Huang Nu were mentioned in the volume 3.5. This book is supposed to delve farther into the Huang Nu's bloodline history which is kind of dark and sad. It is an otome though and not a Romance of the Three Kingdoms type book. Maybe I'll save the Shakespeare thing for my own version an epic Chinese warring states tale later on. Who knows? I'm just throwing out ideas, folks. Feel free to comment.

Other than working on the book, I just found out my employers approved my request to bum off another team's conference trip and I'll be spending Spring Break somewhere nice... wearing a suit and listening to a 12-hr symposium. Oh well, better than nothing. I can still run to the beach afterwards and maybe take a couple of pictures.

One last note, just a reminder that if you would like to do an honest review for one of my books, look me up on Amazon and let me know your email address via Twitter (@lennepenry) along with the book title you'd like to review. I'll send you a redemption code. I'd also appreciate it. <3